FM.A.2 FOLLOWS WITH EYES ACROSS MIDLINE

Once your baby is looking at your face, and at objects held in front of him, you can encourage him to follow the face or object as it moves. We start with just a small movement; by FM.A.10 your child will be following objects through l80°.

How to Assess

Materials: A bright toy, or your face.

Method: Hold the toy, or your face, slightly to one side of your child’s midline (an imaginary line running down the middle of his body). Attract his attention, and when he is looking, move the face or toy a short distance, crossing over his midline.

Score plus if your child follows the object or face across the midline with a single, focused movement. He should not look away and then back again.

How to Teach

Start by teaching your child to follow your face. Move very slowly, talking all the time. If his attention wanders, wait for him to look back and then continue the movement.

Next try a drawn face, a noisy toy and, lastly, a quiet but colourful toy.

Playtime and Round-the-house Activities

Continue to show things to your child, as you have been, but now move them as well. Perhaps you could involve this exercise in your routine; for example, you could practise every time you change his nappy.

Remembering and Extending

This skill is extended in FM.A.3.